Linux question (for Dell Mini) - moving folders commands

[JEBB]

I wanted a copy of my calendar on my Dell Mini with Ubuntu 8.04. The version of Sunbird (0.7) that it downloads from the repository freezes when importing the file I exported from iCal. Version 0.9 is available as a .tar.gz file that decompresses to a folder that has a functioning version of Sunbird. I have been able to get my calendar file imported into it. But I don't want to keep the Sunbird folder on my desktop.

So my question is this: What exactly are the terminal commands necessary to move that folder to usr folder in File System?

(I currently expect that I can put a link to the program in the Applications/Office menu by right clicking on the menus in the Desktop.)

I'm of the opinion that Ubuntu's continued dependence on the terminal to get minor things done will keep it from becoming a real competitor to Windows or OSX. For me Ubuntu is something I would like to know a bit about and, since I see my use of this Mini as only an Internet machine for travel, I don't need to get into it too deep.

Thanks

[ztirffritz]

There is no need to use the terminal. If you can run the application from the folder on your desktop you can run it from the 'home' folder just as well. Nautilus is the file management application that is the equivalent of the 'Finder' in OS X. Your files in Linux are stored by default at /home/username (e.g. /home/jebb). This actually isn't much different than OS X, in fact the only difference is that OS X puts the files at /Users/jebb rather than /home/jebb.

[JEBB]

Let me try again. The expanded folder is on the desktop where I'd rather not have it. I'd like to move it elsewhere, a good candidate is /usr. When I try to click and drag it to /usr Linux tells me that I don't have permission to do that. So I'd like to know how to get around that barrier. I assumed I could only get around that barrier via the terminal.

[microchip]

First you'll need to authenticate as root:
# sudo -s

Then use 'cp -r'. -r is the recursive flag. If you so desired you can just condense it all into:

# sudo cp -r /home/folder /usr/

Don't have a trailing slash on 'folder'.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

[Seacrest]

Do not put downloaded files into /usr or anywhere else that requires root perms.
I usually create a dir called

/usr/local/share/src

or

/usr/local/src

and put that stuff there.

[JEBB]

Elsewhere I asked this question and was given the terminal command: gksudo nautilus. This allowed me to move the folder where I wanted. So immediate problem solved.

Thanks for all your suggestions.